We can all learn from the peaceful transition to the New democratic South Africa
Article Title: Look at South Africa - "Celebrate the Beloved Country" (Up-dated) Author Name: Craig Lock Web Sites: http://www.bridgeniche.com/southern-african-experience/index.html and http://www.bridgeniche.com/get-motivated-now/index.html Additional Articles: http://www.bridgeniche.com/clockarticles/index.html and www.makingprofit.com/mp/arts/author/Author craig1.shtml Line Space: 60 characters (approx) Category (key words): "Inspiration, Spiritual", South Africa Publishing Guidelines: This article may be freely reproduced electronically or in print. All my articles (and quotations) may be freely published. If they help at all, or make a difference in people's lives by bringing some joy, then I'm very happy. # Author's Introduction: Just sharing a few thoughts and remembrances after a very recent visit to my former homeland, this incredible, vibrant and diverse country at the tip of the vast ("dark") continent of Africa, which may be of interest. This piece that I wrote is based upon an address by former Archbishop Desmond Tutu. LOOK AT SOUTH AFRICA - CELEBRATE THE BELOVED COUNTRY (UPDATED) by Craig Lock In the light of current world events and global uncertainty, I say: "Look at South Africa"... Thousands of people died over the years of South Africa's turbulent, history (and under the "nightmare" called apartheid - forgotten already ???)...which has ended relatively peacefully. Out of a violent and bloody past, South Africa's extraordinary relatively peaceful transition to democracy was a minor miracle... and I believe, South Africans have accomplished something unprecented, unparalleled in the last eight years. Perhaps there is a message in South Africa's violent and tortuous path to democracy somewhere to the "trouble spots of the world"... perhaps there was a reason for the misery and tragedy of apartheid (as well as many centuries of colonialism around the globe), after all... A possible role-model? South Africa may be the "trail-blazer", the beacon of magnanimity, hope and reconciliation to the world. With strong leadership, a spirit of goodwill, tolerance, acceptance ...and most importantly, attempts to understand other peoples and cultures, who are different to us (yet we humans have far more in common than our differences)...and especially with the SPIRIT of peace, your nightmare too will end. An end to the evil of terrorism, man's inhumanity to man and the "impossibility" of world peace CAN one day be achieved. Let the world celebrate the quite magnificent achievement South Africans of ALL races and creeds, "The Rainbow People of God" have accomplished in the past decade. With your "torch of light" you may yet illuminate the path to a world one day at peace with itself. CELEBRATE THE "BELOVED COUNTRY" - a land of such contrasts, a "happy, sad" land of great wealth and great poverty, yet the beauty and richness of the land ...and most importantly its most valuable resource the spirit of its 45 million people always seems to shine through. God does work in amazing and miraculous ways...and every person and country has a unique purpose in "God's Divine Plan". Craig Lock * "How apartheid was finally buried, without requiem; but in joyous celebration, will remain forever in the hearts and minds of a nation reborn. When tears came, and there was dampness in the eyes of even the most stern, it was for putting the past in the past and hoping for hope in the future." "South Africa is blessed in resources beyond many. It dare not live just for itself. It must work and labour to bless Africa and the world...but especially Africa. If only for Africa's sake we dare not fail; because as South Africa goes, so will the rest of Africa." * Editor's note (http://www.bridgeniche.com): This prayer of Craig Lock was published in THE BRIDGE EZINE of 05-05-2002, ...so thought we'd share. PRAYER FOR SOUTH AFRICA by Craig Lock (1994) We join in prayer to celebrate this new nation and surrender its destiny to you. We give thanks in our hearts to the founding of this vibrant nation of diverse peoples, a beautiful yet tragic land built upon the rivers of blood, that flowed from our forefathers; yet still flow today...a happy sad land. We give thanks for and bless the souls of those, who came before us and prepared this nation, to nurture and to save it; because so many gave their lives for it, some selflessly and many needlessly. We ask that God's holy spirit now fill the hearts of all this great nation's citizens with a spirit of forgiveness, righteousness, justice, tolerance, respect for others; but especially in a generous spirit of love and hope for the future. In this may we be cleansed of all destructive thoughts. May judgement of others, bigotry, racism and intolerance be washed clean from our hearts, like the blood of our forefathers. May we play our parts, all of us, in the healing and the furtherance of our diverse country; so that it will one day fulfill its immense potential, a promise yet to be fulfilled. To do the very best within our abilities in developing it socially, politically, economically and spiritually...in a spirit of peace and co-operation, each and every one of us. Dear Almighty God, you are all-powerful and omnipresent. You hold each one of us in the palms of your mighty hands. May our minds be filled with the thoughts of you; Your unconditional love and Your acceptance of all Your people, His children. May this nation be forgiven its transgressions against its fellow citizens of all races and creeds and any and all others. May our lives be turned to instruments of resurrection and reconciliation, to reach out and bring all our peoples together, that the sins of our fathers might be reversed through us His children. Let us forgive, even if we can never forget. May the rich promises of this beautiful land be fulfilled...at last. The greatest resource in any nation is its citizens; so may the beauty and greatness of this land burst forth in the hearts of all it's people. Out of the mistakes and tragedy of the past, may the dreams of our forefathers be realised in us; so that we might live in peace, honesty, integrity and excellence with our neighbours. May this country become a light at the top of the hill unto all the nations of this world (but especially in the "dark" neglected continent of Africa): so that our country will be a beacon of goodness and peace and freedom and especially hope. May violence and darkness be cast out of our midst. May hatred no longer find fertile ground in which to grow here. May all of us feel God's mercy, grace and love upon us. Dear God, please please ignite the light, the spirit of truth in our hearts. May our newborn nation be given a new light, the sacred fire that will shine so brightly right across this vast land - from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, from the Limpopo in the north to the Cape of Storms at the southern tip of Africa. May we be forgiven. May our children be blessed. May we be renewed. May each one of us be filled with the spirit of the Almighty. In our lives may each one of us make manifest the glory of God that is in every one of us. Dear God, please bless South Africa. Amen Craig Lock Madiba (President Mandela), I hope you like it. With best wishes and the utmost admiration for your immense generosity of spirit throughout your life. Doesn't the world need a leader like Nelson Mandela today? "Cometh the hour, cometh the man." The problems of the world today cannot be solved by thinking at the same level that created them. Jesus Christ challenged the conventional thinking of the day. PPS: Why can't the world now try a radically different approach to South Africa's "largely forgotten" neighbour, Zimbabwe in "darkest Africa". Even though it's not a strategic country, like Iraq! Like South Africa in the past decade, let the world NOW show how the immense problems under a brutal and repressive government can also be solved PEACEFULLY through "constructive engagement and negotiation in a show of peaceful unity with FIRM LEADERSHIP". Let's not wait for ten years idly passing by. It is now time to "raise the bar". What the world expects now as acceptable (and decent) standards of behaviour in the community of nations. A radically different approach to that imposed on Iraq; yet with the same force and passion as the US military have shown. Now it's time for the United Nations to stand up and be counted. To show the peaceful, yet firm way. To at last show some leadership and shower the people of that beautiful, yet blighted land under Southern skies with humanitarian aid in the form of desperately needed food, health supplies and education. That is the "pressure", which will raise the standards of what the citizens of Zimbabwe will and will not tolerate from their brutal leaders. A more educated, well-fed and healthy population will bring about change naturally and according to the will of the people. It is not up to us to forcibly impose our values (Western and "superior") on other cultures. (Sanctions incidentally isolate people, build borders and entrench attitudes. Even when people radically disagree with other countries internal regimes, things can change far more easily through dialogue (even with one's enemies)and without the devastating long-term consequences of violence in countries, when co-operation, friendship and help is offered in a spirit of tolerance, love and generosity. Those leaders, who ignore the lessons of world history are doomed to repeat them. Let's fight the "war for peace" with passion and with all of our energies. In the "WAR FOR PEACE" everyone then benefits (a "win/win" situation). I believe, that is the only true way to lasting world peace in living with and acceptance of each other... And so helps make a better world. Craig Lock P.S: I am reminded of something Mahatma Gandhi's said not long before he was assassinated: "When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible; but in the end, they always fall. Think of it, ALWAYS." "Love suffers long and is kind. Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. And now abide faith, hope, love; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13 "When the world is filled with love, people are overflowing with hope." Let the world of nations immediately lift sanctions on the beleagured people of Iraq and sent as much humanitarian resolve to help rebuild that devasted country. "Let us take courage. The years are passing. The time for decision is now." Craig Lock http://www.craiglock.com http://www.craiglockbooks.com The various books that Craig "felt inspired to write" are available at: http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/books.html http://www.bridgeniche.com/get-motivated-now/index.html and http://www.bridgeniche.com/southern-african-experience/index.html

About the Author

Craig Lock is a graduate from the University of Cape Town in South Africa... but he has learnt far more from the "school of hard knocks" and the University of Life... battered, bruised but never unbowed. He is an extensive world traveller (on a "shoestring budget") and failed professional emigrater who has spent most of his life's savings on airfares. He is still 'sliding down the razor blade of life' on the beautiful undiscovered island that is New Zealand, somewhere near the bottom (rude!) of the world near Antarctica. There he talks to the 60 million sheep! Craig has been involved in the corporate world (life assurance) for over twenty years in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. However, through a strange set of circumstances and finding himself in a small town near the bottom of the world ...and with nothing else to do, he started writing. That was five years ago. Five published books later and having written another fourteen manuscripts (on widely differing subjects) being published and promoted himself on the internet... this is where Craig is in the "journey/adventure" that is life. Craig has taught at the local Tairiwhiti Polytechnic (English), as well as running a successful creative writing course (not teaching sheep!). He is the author of (as far as we know) the first and only creative writing course on the internet by a published writer. Craig has many varied interests and passions. He is particularly interested in the field of psychology and what makes different people "tick-tock grandfather clock". One of his missions in life is helping people make the most of their hidden potential and so finding their niche in life... so that they are happy. He firmly believes in the motto: "Find what you love doing, then you will never have to do a day's work in your life." Craig is certain he has found his niche in life... anyway, what other job would be suitable for him?